Event photography is not for the faint of heart, it can be intimidating, it can be overwhelming. Events are usually fast-paced and you have to do more than point, shoot and hope for the best. When shooting an event, you just need to slow down, be observant and most of all be patient. I’ve shot tons of events and I picked up a few tricks I would like to share:
Mix it up
When someone is looking at your photos, they should be pulled into the action of the event, make them feel like an active participant and not passive observer. Your photos should hit different, For example, if you’re shooting an event where there’s a stage show, make sure you squeeze yourself between the excited, sweaty fans, shoot from between the onlookers so that the viewer feels as though they are in the crowd as well.
Also, instead of just focusing on what’s happening on stage, make sure you capture the energy of the crowd, the raised hands, the excited faces. Remember, each new angle tells different aspect of the story.
Frame Them
When shooting, you should be looking for elements in the environment to frame the subject, make it absolutely clear what the viewer should be looking at. Almost anything can be used as a frame e.g doors, smoke, vehicles, even people. Once your eyes have been trained to look for frames, you’ll find yourself seeing them everywhere. Some framing techniques can include
– natural frames: branches, archways
– lights and shadows
– color contrasts
– foreground elements.
the smoke was used to partially frame the subject
Play with Foreground and Background Elements
It’s important to know that the background is just as important as the foreground, by strategically incorporating certain parts of your photo, you can bring a sense of dimension, depth and immersion to your images. You can use various elements to create a balanced composition, the foreground and background can create a harmonious, visual flow. You can also incorporate textures, colours and contrasting elements to grab the viewer’s attention and make your photo more engaging.
The smoke is used to create depth and separation since the subject has on some black clothing and could get lost in the background
Light It Up
Lights can be your best friend or your worst enemy. There’s rarely an event in Guyana that caters for photography so photographers and videographers have to work with what they get. I prefer to shoot with flash so that I can keep my ISO low and also focus on capturing the activities as they occur, I have met other photographers that prefer to crank the ISO get more “natural” picture but to each their own. At events, you should definitely be paying attention to the lights; pay attention to the colour, the duration of each strobe, the direction and also how they cast shadows on a particular subject, when the opportunity permits, don’t be afraid to cut the flash and get to work.
Fill The Frame
Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal. You fill the frame with your subject, leaving less distractions for your viewer. Because you’re shooting an event, the background could be very busy, filling the frame enhances simplicity and reduces any redundancy that may occur. Filling the frame can also have an emotional impact, you can get a close up of an artiste’s face as they belting out a note or a close up of a costume if there’s a fashion show. You can achieve this technique by physically getting close to the subject, using a zoom or cropping in post.
Listen, at the end of the day, photography is about telling stories. These techniques are just tools in your kit. Play around, break some rules, and find your style. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or trying to document the next big event, these tips will help you level up your game.
